A Nadi businessman ap­peared at the Nadi Magis­trates Court facing charges of being in possession of danger­ous drugs and equipment that was allegedly involved in manufactur­ing illicit drugs.

Planet Haze Nightclub owner Vishal Rohit Prasad, 37, was pro­duced before Magistrate Peni Dali­tuicama on Monday. He is charged with three counts of unlawful pos­session of illicit drugs and one count of unlawful possession of a control equipment.

It was alleged that Police, acting on information from a separate ar­rest, which was also drug-related raided the nightclub where they found 0.9grams of marijuana, 18.08 grams of methamphetamine and 1.19 grams of cocaine.

Prosecution told the court that the case was well known in the Nadi area and was of public interest.

Defence lawyer Munsami Chetty submitted that the accused was kept in Police custody for more than 48 hours, breaching his con­stitutional rights.

Mr Chetty asked the court for strict bail conditions for the ac­cused.

The accused has been remanded in custody until March 19 for a bail ruling at the Nadi Magistrates Court.

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj